Flexible coupling



SePt- 4, 1934' E. c. KRADOSKA 1,972,779

FLEXIBLE COUPLI NG Filed May 2. 1932 WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 4, 1934 Unirse STATES FLEXIBLE ooUPLINq Edward C. Kradoska, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to George J. Keller, Glenside, Pa.

Application May 2, 1932, Serial No. 608,779

8 claims.

This invention relates to an improved flexible coupling particularly adapted for power transmission between driving and driven shafts, or between two shaft sections, and the purpose of the invention is to provide a coupling of such character as to enable power to be transmitted from one section to another whether the adjacent ends of the shaft sections are close together or substantially widely separated, or whether the shaft sections are in parallel misalignment or angular mis-alignment. Y

Another purpose is to provide a flexible coupling including spherical members operative in cylindrical pockets, the latter being of greater radii than the spherical members, so that the members canreadily roll in the seats of the cylindrical pockets and more easily take up the load from one section to the other without undue torsional strain on the moving parts.

Another purpose is to provide a coupling of this character, wherein the cylindrical pockets are of such elongated form as to enable the shaft sections to fioat or move axially toward and from each other as the load is equalized between the two sections.

A further purpose is to provide a coupling of this kind including means for retaining the spherical members in their pockets, together with means for preventing loss of lubrication to be contained in the coupling.

By the provision of a coupling of this kind including cylindrical pockets for the spherical members, the pockets have lradii substantially greater than the spherical members and insure rolling action of the members, such as will prevent iiats on the members:

A still, further purpose is to provide, in a coupling of this kind elongated pockets for the spherical members having multiple curvatures of greater radii than the spherical members,v or multiple seats, with each oney of which the spherical members niay have single point of contact, in order to insure a rolling action in the picking up of and equalizing the load between the shaft sections, thereby avoiding any undue torsional strain between the rotating shaft sections.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative, and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions rnay be made in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth,

`shown in the drawing and claimed.

In the drawingz- A Figure 1 is a vlongitudinal sectional View through the improved coupling constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a Vsectional view on line 2-2 of 6G Figure 1.v

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectionalview slightly modied to that shown in Figure 1.

Figures-4to 7 inclusive show diagrams illustrating the various axial floating mis-alignment 65 positions of the shaft sections.Y

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View wherein .the pockets have multiple curvatures of greater radii than the spherical member. v

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the coupling 70 in transverse cross section, each pocket having three radii, or of a parabolical curvature.

Figures 10 and 11 inclusive'show fragmentary portions of the coupling in transverse cross section, wherein the seats of the pockets have multi- 75.' ple points of Contact withr the spherical members.

Figures 12 and 13 are fragmentaryviews of parts of the coupling in transverse cross section illustrating different positions 'of .the pockets rel ative to the spherical members. L

Referring to the drawing 1 and 2 identify shaft sections, in the present instance the latter being the drivingsection and the former the driven section, though it may be just the reverse.

Keyed at 3 and 4 on the adjacent ends of the shaft sections are heads 5 and 6, those in Figure 3 being slightly modified to those in Figure 1, in that the abuttingrshoulders 7 are in between the spherical members 8 and 9, whereas inFigure 1 the abutment shoulders 10 and A11 are adjacent remote sides of the spherical members and 9.

Arranged in cavities 12 and 13 of the heads 5 and 6 are bushings 14 and 15, which have seats 16 for the spherical members 9 and 8. These seats 16 are of greater radii than thev spherical members 8 and 9, so that the spherical members can roll in the load being taken up and equalized between the shaft sections, thereby relieving any torsional strain on the rotating parts. v

Surrounding the heads 5 and 6, which are carried by the shaft sections is a sleeve orcollar 17, which in Figure V1 is provided with cavities 18 for the reception of bushings 19. Judging from the construction and arrangement in `Figurel thereare 6 bushings 19, butupon examining the construction and arrangement shownin Figure 3 the sleeve or collar 17al only` has three cavities for the reception of three bushings 19a@ It is to be noted that the bushings 19a in Figure 3A are more Aelongated than those in Figure 1, because the abutment shoulders 7 are between the spherical members, whereas the abutment shoulders 10 and 11 in Figure 1 are on the remote sides of the spherical members.

The bushings 19 and 19o in Figures l and 3 have seats 21 and 22 for the reception of the spherical members 8 and 9.

It will be noted thatY the seat 16 and the seats 21 and 22 are. of .greater radii than the spherical members 8 and 9, allowing the members to roll as the load takes up and edualizes between the shaft sections, which relieves to a great extent any torsional strain between the rotating parts, and which at the same time prevents ats forming on the spherical members.

In Figure 1 covers 23 arelfastened by screws 24 or the like to the ends of the sleeve or collar 17, and these covers have recesses 25 for the reception of non-metallic washers 26, which` may be constructed of any suitable material preferably fibrous material, which may be'not too stiff and not too pliable, butV of a character as to remain inv wiping. contactlwith the outer cylindrical surfaces of the heads 5 and 6,'thereby providing for the retention of lubrication within the collar or sleeve 17, and also to exclude dust, dirt andy other foreign matterfromv the interior ofv the sleeve orcollar. .l f' i.'

InFigure 3` plates 27 are threaded at 28 into the opposite ends of the collar or sleeve 17a, and are channeled at 29', thechannels receiving nonmetallic washers 30 similar to the washers 26 and designed for the same purpose. However in Figure 3 retaining rings 3l are also located in the portions of the walls of the recesses 25 and certain walls of the channels 29 are inclined at 32 and 33 to allow certain parts of the washers 26 and 30`to flex during the axial movement of the shaft sectionsas well as permitting of mis-align-Y ment positions of the shaft sections, either parallel mis-alignment positions or angulal1 rnis-alignment positions. f 'A Referring to Figure 8 the seat 16a and the seat 22a have multiple curvatures 34, of greater radii than the spherical member 3a, which construction also'permits of rolling action of the spherical member when taking up and equalizing the load between the shaft sections and which also relieves to a substantial extent any torsional strain on the rotating parts.

In Figure 9 the seats 35 of the bushings have 3 curvatures, certain Aof which are cf greater radii than the spherical member 8b. In YFigure 10 the seats 36 of therbushings at diametrical opposite portions have flats 37 and curvatures 38, which are of greater radii than the spherical member 8c.

I n Figure 1l the seats 39 of the bushings at diametrical opposite portions have curvatures 40 of 'less radii than the spherical member 8d, whilethesefsame seats 39 have diagonal opposite iiats 4l, thereby providing seats for the spherical k*member having amultiple of contacts Vwith the V'spherical member.

' The Vinvention having been set forth, what is claimed is: I' Y 1. In a flexible coupling, the combination with adjacent ends of a pair of shaft sections, of heads fast on the adjacent ends of the shaft sections, a sleeve encircling the adjacent heads in spaced relation thereto, the exterior ofthe heads and the interior of the sleeve having cavities, bushings arranged in the cavities and provided with fastl on the adjacent ends of the shaft sections,

a sleeve encircling. the adjacent heads in spaced relation thereto, the exterior of the heads and the interior of the sleeve having cavities, bushings arranged in the cavities and provided with cylindrical seats, spherical members engaged in said seats and being of less radii than the radii of the cylindrical seats, thereby allowing the spherical members to roll when taking up and equalizing the load while the shaft sections are parallel or angularly mis-aligned, said` seats extending in directions longitudinal with the shaft sections, thereby allowing axial movement as well as a tilting movement relative to the other adjacent shaft section, abutments at certain opposite ends ofthe cylindrical seats for retaining the spherical members in the seats and preventing excessive longitudinal movements of the members.

3. In a flexible coupling, the combination with adjacent ends of a pair of shaft sections, of heads fast on the adjacent ends ofthe shaft sections, a sleeve encircling they adjacent heads in spaced relation theretothe exterior of the heads and the interior of the sleeve'having cavities, bushings arranged in the cavities and provided with'v cylindrical seats, spherical membersl engaged in said seats and being of less radii than the radii iofi the cylindrical seats, thereby allowing the spherical memb-ers to roll when taking up and equalizing the load while the shaft sections are parallel and angularly mis-aligned, said seats extending in directions longitudinal with the shaft sections, thereby allowing axial movement as well as a tilting movement relative to the other adjacent shaft section, abutments at certain 0pposite ends of the cylindrical seats for retaining the spherical members in the seats and preventing excessive longitudinal movements of the members, certain of the abutments including means for the retention of lubricant within the sleeve.

4. In a flexible coupling, a pairof shaft sections substantially end to end, a head fast on the end of each shaft section, a sleeve encircling the adjacent heads in spaced relation thereto, at triangular positions exteriorly of the heads and interiorly of the sleeve being provided with hushed cylindrical cavitieswith cylindrical seats in said bushings, spherical membersv engaged in the seats, said spherical members being of a less radii than the seats to permit rolling action of the spheril cal members when taking up and equalizing the load, which together with the cylindrical seats being parallel with the shaft sections constitute means to allow end to end movement of the shaft sections as well as parallel and angularly misalignment of the shaft sections.

5. Ina flexible coupling, a pair of shaft sections substantially end to end, a head fast on the end of each shaft section, a sleeve encircling the adjacent heads in spaced relation thereto, at triangular positions exteriorly ofthe heads andinteriorly of the sleeve being provided with bushed cylindrical cavities with cylindrical seats in said bushings, spherical members engaged in the seats, said spherical members being of a less radii than the seats to permit rolling action of the spherical members when taking up and equalizing the load, which together with the cylindrical seats being parallel with the shaft sections constitute means to allow end to end movement of the shaft sections as Well as parallel and angularly mis-alignment of the shaft sections, and means operatively associated with the heads and the sleeve to prevent excessive longitudinal movement of the aforesaid associated elements.

6. A flexible shaft coupling comprising a sleeve, two hubs disposed end to end and each having a sleeve, said hubs and the rst sleeve provided with longitudinally elongated pockets or cavities in spaced relation at three different points, spherical intermediate members in said pockets, said pockets having specially formed contacting surfaces with a relative curvature greater than the spherical intermediate members contacted by the Walls of said pockets, said contact under driving load producing a true compressive load upon the spherical members.

7. A flexible shaft coupling comprising a sleeve, two hubs disposed end to end and each having a sleeve, said hubs and the lirst sleeve provided with longitudinally elongated pockets or cavities in spaced relation at three different points, spherical intermediate members in said pockets, said pockets having specially formed contacting surfaces with a relative curvature greater than the spherical intermediate members contacted by the walls of said pockets, said contact Vunder driving load producing a true compressive load upon the spherical members, said contact at said three different points between the first sleeve and each hub producing equal distribution of load to the spherical members during operation under aligned, misaligned, and axial motion conditions, separately or in combination.

8. A exible shaft coupling comprising a sleeve, two hubs disposed end to end and each having a sleeve, said hubs and the rst sleeve provided with longitudinally elongated pockets or cavities in spaced relation at three different points, spherical intermediate members in said pockets, said pockets having specially formed contacting surfaces with a relative curvature greater than the spherical intermediate members contacted by the walls of said pockets, said contact under driving load producing a true compressive load upon the spherical members, said contact at said three different points between the first sleeve and each hub pro-` ducing equal distribution of load tothe spherical members during operation under aligned, misaligned, and axial motion conditions, separately or in combination, said equal distribution of load constituting means insuringY that any required motion necessary between said hubs and the first sleeve during operation under conditions of misalignment or axial motion will be accom- 

